Using fault analysis methods to improve bioreactor safety.

A simplified fault analysis algorithm has been described and applied to the analysis of containment loss in a model bioreactor system. Using approximate data for component failure rates, the relative merits of three proposed operating regimes were evaluated by means of a computer program that implements the algorithm described. With the data given, operator error is shown to be the dominant cause of possible failure in the proposed system. In view of these results, the simplified algorithm appears useful for the comparative evaluation of various design proposals in simple systems.